A Timaru man says a “mini tornado” sent farm equipment about 20m into the sky this afternoon as a “crazy” thunderstorm ripped through Canterbury and pelted the region with hail that damaged buildings and cars.
Brendan Gray said he saw “a mini tornado” roll through his place and throw his calf feeder in the air in Kerrytown.
“It was pretty crazy.
“I was at home in the lounge and heard a loud noise, wondering what and where it came from, I looked out the door and seen a large spiralling mini tornado of dust going across the end of my lifestyle block.
“We have a calf musli feeder that I seen get picked way up into the air and slammed back down into a hedge, and the calves and horses ran around wondering what was going on.”
He thinks the calf feeder was thrown about 20 metres in the air by the tornado.
“One of the horses broke out trying to get away.
“[We were] lucky we weren’t out there with the kids.”
Others in Canterbury described hail the size of 50c coins raining down on them. Some locals posted pictures of smashed glasshouses from the weather, while others reported damage to cars.
One central Christchurch resident told the Herald the weather had “gone crazy” and expressed concern for her skylight as hail pelted the city.
“The hail is no longer there, but it’s still pissing with rain,” the woman said.
A Hoon Hay resident said their deck was covered by the hail in just “minutes”.
MetService at 2:50pm lifted a thunderstorm warning for the Christchurch and Selwyn areas, after lifting its warning for two other South Island spots earlier this afternoon.
Hail also struck visitors to the Royal A&P show in Christchurch and races at Riccarton.
At 1.45pm, the MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Darfield, Oxford, Kirwee, Charing Cross and Grendale.
“These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the east-northeast, and are expected to lie near Rolleston, Cust, West Melton, Mcleans Island, Eyrewell Forest and West Eyreton at 2.15pm,” MetService said.
The thunderstorms are expected to travel near Christchurch, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Mcleans Island, Templeton, Belfast, Christchurch Airport and Eyreton at 2.45pm.
“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and large hail,” MetService said.
MetService issued a separate severe thunderstorm warning for the Canterbury area just before 1pm today, but this warning was lifted at 1.41pm due to the storm moving offshore.
At 12.45pm today, the MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Timaru, St Andrews, Pareora, Makikihi and offshore east of Timaru.
“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and large hail.
“Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous,” MetService said.
Residents are being told to beware of fallen trees and power lines and avoid streams and drains due to flash flooding.
The National Emergency Management Agency advises that, as storms approach, people in the area should take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows, and avoid sheltering under trees if outside.
Other severe weather warnings and watches have been lifted overnight as most of the country experiences a short-lived weekend reprieve.
Yesterday, a thunderstorm watch was issued for Bay of Plenty, Taupō, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, but this has now been lifted.
Today, periods of rain and showers are expected as a front moves across the North Island.
Auckland, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty can expect rain for a time this morning, then fine conditions apart from the odd light shower, MetService said.
“A ridge of high pressure is spreading up the country during the course of the day, bringing a clearing trend to those showers,“ MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam said.
🌅Ata mārie, good morning Aotearoa New Zealand .
— MetService NZ (@MetService) November 14, 2025
🌡️At 7am temperatures ranged from 5°C in Oamaru and Wanaka to 17°C up north in Tauranga and Whitianga.
Check your weekend forecast
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Heavier showers are possible along the Canterbury coast in the afternoon, becoming confined to Southland and Clutha this evening.
Fine weather is expected across the country by tonight.
“Temperatures are about average over the country this weekend, but the south of the South Island has forecast highs of 4C below average today, eg Wānaka 15C, Queenstown 14C and Invercargill 12C,” Bellam said.
On Sunday, the North Island should have mainly fine weather, with isolated showers in the afternoon and evening in Northland, MetService said.
Frost is possible for Southland, Otago, and Canterbury on Sunday morning as temperatures drop to low single digits.
“A cool start for Alexandra and Queenstown on Sunday morning, with a low of 2C, 5C below average, forecast in both towns,” Bellam said.
Along the East Coast of the South Island, northeasterly winds will be brisk.
Rain is forecast to return to parts of the North Island on Monday, with isolated showers in the north and west.
In the South Island, temperatures in Canterbury may rise to the mid-20s on Monday. Winds pick up by the end of the day ahead of this next weather system.
On Tuesday, MetService said rain is expected to return across the country.
The North Island is forecast to be partly cloudy with isolated showers, with heavy rain developing for the Bay of Plenty later in the day.
Rain with heavy falls in the west of the South Island is expected on Tuesday, and occasional rain will develop in the south.